RTO is yet to inspect 31.79 pc school buses

When we started inspection of these vehicles, out of 2,510 vehicles, 66 were reinspected. We have seized 38 vehicles for not following norms of the RTO. We received Rs 5.31 lakh as fine

Pune: Though the Pune Regional Transport Office (RTO) has appealed to parents to take up the responsibility of knowing and understanding the quality of vehicles in which their children travel every day, it has inspected only 68.21 per cent school buses while 31.79 per cent buses are still to be checked.

Out of the total school transport vehicles, 70.4 per cent (3,680) are buses. Now, the RTO has started sending notices to them and sought their reply soon. There are 5,224 vehicles ferrying school children in the city. They have also been registered with the RTO.

Despite the Nagpur High Court bench directive declaring June 15 as the deadline for the inspection of school transport vehicles, around 1,300 buses were inspected till the end of June.

According to RTO officials, around 3,680 school buses are registered with the RTO. Only 2,510 have been inspected till date while 1,170 buses have not been sent for inspection.

“When we started inspection of these vehicles, out of 2,510 vehicles, 66 were reinspected. We have seized 38 vehicles for not following norms of the RTO. We received Rs 5.31 lakh as fine,” said a senior officer of Pune RTO.

“The 38 seized vehicles have no insurance, RTO licence, proper documents, school bus rulebook, firefighting extinguisher, emergency exit and an attendant,”added the official. RTO demanded an explanation from the bus operators for the delay. Also, they warned operators to complete their inspection as early as possible, if they do not want any harsh action like the cancellation of registration.

“We have already given enough time to the transporters. Special camps were held at schools so that the bus operators do not have to visit the RTO office. Despite such proactive steps, sizeable numbers of buses have not been brought for check-ups. Now, the operators will have to explain to us the reason for the delay on their part,” said an RTO official. “The RTO has issued a notice to the school transport committee to conduct the investigation at schools, which have not yet re-inspected their school transport vehicles. The schools have to compulsorily register themselves under the School Transport Committee and get their inspections completed. If any school fails to do so, their transport registration number will be cancelled by the RTO,” Balasaheb Ajri told Sakal Times.